Three Steps to Handling Pet Poisoning

If your pet is suffering from poisoning, you could save his life by following these three steps to get him help.If your dog or cat is suffering from pet poisoning, you could save his life by following these three steps to get him help.

Stay as calm as possible. Although it's important to come to your pet's aid as quickly as possible, keeping a clear head and responding in a level-headed manner could save your pet's life.

1. Take a minute to quickly collect the poison culprits in a sealable plastic bag. The ASPCA recommends you take 30 to 60 seconds to get any material that your pet may have ingested so a toxicologist or your vet can examine it.

2. Call a poison control center. The ASPCA hotline can be reached at (888) 426-4435. You will have a pay a consultation fee for the poison control center, but the call could very well save your pet's life.

3. Get your pet to a vet as soon as possible. Check with your vet about their emergency policies or have the number of a 24-hour animal hospital on hand before an accident happens. Every minute counts, so stay calm and be prepared!